December 3: The Ottawa Treaty to ban anti-personnel landmines (1997)

Anti-personnel mines
(M14, Valmara 69, VS-50)

In Ottawa, Canada, the Ottawa Treaty, which bans manufacturing and deploying anti-personnel landmines, was opened for signature. Canada, Ireland and Mauritius became the first states to ratify the treaty on this date. As of September 2011, 158 states have ratified or acceded to the treaty. However, over 30 states, which are main consumers or producers of such landmines, did not sign the treaty, including the United States of America, People's Republic of China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Israel, many middle east states, North Korea and South Korea. Anti-personnel landmines are designed to injure, but not kill, victims in order to increase the logistical or medical needs to the enemy forces. They may be effective and efficient in the battle, but they are extremely inhumane or anti-human.